The curious case of the occurrence of Lampranthus glaucus (L.) N.E.Br. (Aizoaceae / Mesembryanthemaceae) in Europe

A number of species of South African Aizoaceae / Mesembryanthemaceae have become naturalised in both continental Portugal and its islands. One such species, Lampranthus glaucus (L.) N.E.Br., was once recorded as indigenous to the Algarve province in southern Portugal (as Mesembryanthemum brachyphyllum Welw.), and historically also recorded from further north in the country, near the coastal city of Porto. As one consequence it was eventually recorded as an exotic species in Europe, in the first edition of Flora europaea, and as a misidentification in the second edition of this work. We clarify the identity of this material, with notes on other exotic aizooid species recorded for Portugal.